Former Governor of Vermont and former chair of the Democratic National Committee Dr. Howard Dean sparred with a freshly buzz-cut Stephen Colbert on last night’s Colbert Report. The topic under discussion (besides the Governor’s poisonous liberal kidneys)? Real healthcare reform, and Dr. Dean’s new book / roadmap to reform, Howard Dean’s Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform: How We Can Achieve Affordable Medical Care for Every American and Make Our Jobs Safer.

Colbert was in top form—but that kind of goes without saying—and Dr. Dean was quick on his feet as well, poking fun at the three-page, no-numbers, Republican healthcare “plan,” while managing to get a word in edgewise about the 50 million uninsured in this country.